Page 82 of Blood and Ruin: The Complete Series

Rion? There was no one else with that smooth velvet tone. It had to be them, but how, and more importantly, why?

Still on the balls of my feet, I move closer, leaning my ear against the thin metal walls.

“What if Kaladar—”

That had to be Axel, but his tone was far removed from his normal ire. Instead there was a broken question full of distress.

“Don’t even think about finishing that sentence.” Kai’s reply lashes out like a whip, cutting Axel off.

“Luna said—”

“I don’t give a shit what she said. She’s alive. I know it.”

I couldn’t sit here and listen any longer. The desperate despair in each voice, pushing me forward.

If it is them, they’re each getting a telling off. Why the hell didn’t they leave? They could put everything we did into jeopardy. Luna could now be in trouble because of their foolishness.

Their conversations come to a halt as I climb up the short passage and open the small laundry door.

Axel, Rion and Kai have weapons out and are ready for an attack.

“Kiarra!” Kai’s eyes widen in relief as he helps me out.

“I think you can put those away now.” I nod towards Rion’s daggers. He rolls his eyes, giving me a small smile full of relief.

“Where have you been? We’ve been looking everywhere!”

“Around. I needed to stay out of the way for a bit.”

“And you thought a laundry chute was your best option?” Axel replies, a small smile to his lips and without his usual sarcasm and assholeness.

“It was a last-minute decision.”

A smile tilts the side of his mouth, it’s there and gone before I know it. He narrows his eyes on me, knowing I caught it.

I ignore him, focusing on the bigger issue here. “What are you guys doing here?”

Kai grabs my arm. “Kaladar is locking down the hotel as we speak. We need to get out of here now.”

He moves forward, but I pull away, stepping back.

“Kiarra?”

“Why didn’t you leave?”

They share a hesitant look. I look around, not seeing Luka and Jax. What if Kaladar came after them? He could have found Luna, all while I was hiding like a frightened weak mouse.

My stomach twists and turns at the thought.

They had to be okay.

My eyes widen. “Is Luna—”

Kai’s eyes soften. “She’s fine. Safe with Jax and Luka.”

I release a harsh breath as my racing heart starts to slow back down.

“Good.”

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